To evaluate heart rate as a patient-related confounder in a commonly applied T2 balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) mapping sequence used for myocardial tissue characterization.Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis included prospectively (from December 2013 to November 2021) acquired cardiac MRI (1.5 T) datasets with T2 bSSFP mapping from 69 healthy volunteers. Phantom studies and Bloch simulations were performed with heart rates of 60–130 beats per minute and different resting periods (three, six, or nine R-R intervals). Sequence parameters (repetition time, echo time, flip angle, echo train length) were matched across volunteer, phantom, and simulation measurements. Reference values covered clinically relevant T1 and T2 properties found in native myocardium (short, 1041 and 44 msec; medium, 1293 and 43 msec; long, 1534 and 40 msec). A mixed linear model assessed the effect of heart rate on T2 values in volunteer measurements.Results: The study included 69 healthy volunteers (median age, 34 years; 44 female and 25 male). Heart rate influenced T2 values acquired with three R-R resting periods (r = −0.38, P =.002; linear regression slope, −0.7 msec/10 beats per minute [95% CI: −1.2, −0.1]). In simulation and phantom measurements, T2 values acquired with three R-R resting periods strongly correlated with heart rate, irrespective of myocardial T1 and T2 properties (r ≤ −0.88; P <.01 for all measurements). Heart rate dependency was reduced with increased resting periods in simulations and phantom measurements. Short myocardial T1 and T2 values derived from T2 bSSFP with nine R-R resting periods were not dependent on heart rate (r = −0.41; P =.33).Conclusion: T2 bSSFP with three R-R resting periods underestimates T2 values with increasing heart rates. Use of longer resting periods with T2 bSSFP mapping sequences reduced heart rate dependency.

Purpose: To introduce Double Inversion Recovery (DIR) preparations for myocardial Arterial Spin Labeling (myoASL) for mitigation of heart rate (HR) variability induced physiological noise (PN).

Methods: DIR-labeling was implemented for double ECG-gated myoASLsequences and compared with conventional Flow-sensitive Alternating Inversion Recovery (FAIR) labeling using single inversions. In DIR-preparations, the FAIR-inversion pulses were immediately followed by an identical reinversion pulse, applied either slice-selectively or nonselectively. Bloch-equation-based simulation and phantom experiments were performed to evaluate the PN and SNR across a range of HR variabilities. Data from six healthy subjects were acquired to evaluate myocardial blood flow (MBF), PN, and SNR in vivo.

Results: Simulation experiments showed that the averageMBFvalues remained nearly constant across the range of HR variabilities and were comparable across all three sequences. However, DIR-labeling allowed for greater recovery of the myocardial background signal, which mitigates the sensitivity to HR-dependent changes in the inversion time. Consequently, PN in the presence of HR variability was substantially reduced with DIR-labeling. For HR variabilities corresponding to the mean value observed in vivo, this resulted in a simulated SNR gain of 1.79 ± 0.90 for selective and 1.55 ± 0.77 for nonselective DIR-labeling. In vivo, DIR-labeling showed reduced PN, with 53% (p < 0.05)/44% (p = 0.16) less PN compared with conventional FAIR-myoASL, leading to an average SNR gain of 1.47 ± 0.63 (p = 0.09)/1.32 ± 0.57 (p = 0.84) with selective/nonselective reinversions.

Conclusion: The proposed DIR-preparations reduce sensitivity to HR variations and alleviate PN in double ECG-gated myoASL, improving the precision of myoASL-based perfusion quantification.

The 28th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) took place from January 29 to February 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C. SCMR 2025 brought together a diverse group of 1714 cardiologists, radiologists, scientists, and technologists from more than 80 countries to discuss emerging trends and the latest developments in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). The conference centered on the theme “Leading the Way to Accessible, Sustainable, and Efficient CMR,” highlighting innovations aimed at making CMR more clinically efficient, widely accessible, and environmentally sustainable. The program featured 728 abstracts and case presentations with an acceptance rate of 86% (728/849), including early career award abstracts, oral abstracts, oral cases and rapid-fire sessions, covering a broad range of CMR topics. It also offered engaging invited lectures across eight main parallel tracks and included four plenary sessions, two gold medalists, and one keynote speaker, with a total of 826 faculty participating. Focused sessions on accessibility, efficiency, and sustainability provided a platform for discussing current challenges and exploring future directions, while the newly introduced CMR Innovations Track showcased innovative session formats and fostered greater collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and industry. For the first time, SCMR 2025 also offered the opportunity for attendees to obtain CMR Level 1 Training Verification, integrated into the program. Additionally, expert case reading sessions and hands-on interactive workshops allowed participants to engage with real-world clinical scenarios and deepen their understanding through practical experience. Key highlights included plenary sessions on a variety of important topics, such as expanding boundaries, health equity, women's cardiovascular disease and a patient-clinician testimonial that emphasized the profound value of patient-centered research and collaboration. The scientific sessions covered a wide range of topics, from clinical applications in cardiomyopathies, congenital heart disease, and vascular imaging to women's heart health and environmental sustainability. Technical topics included novel reconstruction, motion correction, quantitative CMR, contrast agents, novel field strengths, and artificial intelligence applications, among many others. This paper summarizes the key themes and discussions from SCMR 2025, highlighting the collaborative efforts that are driving the future of CMR and underscoring the Society's unwavering commitment to research, education, and clinical excellence.

Presenting quantitative data using non-standardized color maps potentially results in unrecognized misinterpretation of data. Clinically meaningful color maps should intuitively and inclusively represent data without misleading interpretation. Uniformity of the color gradient for color maps is critically important. Maximal color and lightness contrast, readability for color vision-impaired individuals, and recognizability of the color scheme are highly desirable features. This article describes the use of color maps in five key quantitative MRI techniques: relaxometry, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI, MR elastography (MRE), and water-fat MRI. Current display practice of color maps is reviewed and shortcomings against desirable features are highlighted. Evidence Level: 5. Technical Efficacy: Stage 2.

Purpose: Evaluate the feasibility of quantification of Relaxation Along a Fictitious Field in the 2nd rotating frame (RAFF2) relaxation times in the human myocardium at 3 T.

Methods: TRAFF2 mapping was performed using a breath-held ECG-gated acquisition of five images: one without preparation, three preceded by RAFF2 trains of varying duration, and one preceded by a saturation prepulse. Pixel-wise TRAFF2 maps were obtained after three-parameter exponential fitting. The repeatability of TRAFF2, T1, and T2 was assessed in phantom via the coefficient of variation (CV) across three repetitions. In seven healthy subjects, TRAFF2 was tested for precision, reproducibility, inter-subject variability, and image quality (IQ) on a Likert scale (1 = Nondiagnostic, 5 = Excellent). Additionally, TRAFF2 mapping was performed in three patients with suspected cardiovascular disease, comparing it to late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), native T1, T2, and ECV mapping.

Results: In phantom, TRAFF2 showed good repeatability (CV < 1.5%) while showing no (R2=0.09) and high (R2=0.99) correlation with T1 and T2, respectively. Myocardial TRAFF2 maps exhibited overall acceptable image quality (IQ = 3.0±1.0) with moderate artifact levels, stemming from off-resonances near the coronary sinus. Average TRAFF2 time across subjects and repetitions was 79.1 ± 7.3 ms. Good precision (7.6 ± 1.4%), reproducibility (1.0 ± 0.6%), and low inter-subject variability (10.0 ± 1.8%) were obtained. In patients, visual agreement of the infarcted area was observed in the TRAFF2 map and LGE.

Conclusion: Myocardial TRAFF2 quantification at 3 T was successfully achieved in a single breath-hold with acceptable image quality, albeit with residual off-resonance artifacts. Nonetheless, preliminary clinical data indicate potential sensitivity of TRAFF2 mapping to myocardial infarction detection without the need for contrast agents, but off-resonance artifacts mitigation warrants further investigation.

Purpose
To optimize Relaxation along a Fictitious Field (RAFF) pulses for rotating frame relaxometry with improved robustness in the presence of B0 and B1+ field inhomogeneities.

Methods
The resilience of RAFF pulses against B0 and B1+ inhomogeneities was studied using Bloch simulations. A parameterized extension of the RAFF formulation was introduced and used to derive a generalized inhomogeneity-resilient RAFF (girRAFF) pulse. RAFF and girRAFF preparation efficiency, defined as the ratio of the longitudinal magnetization before and after the preparation Mz (Tp / M0), were simulated and validated in phantom experiments. TRAFF and TgirRAFF parametric maps were acquired at 3T in phantom, the calf muscle, and the knee cartilage of healthy subjects. The relaxation time maps were analyzed for resilience against artificially induced field inhomogeneities and assessed in terms of in vivo reproducibility.

Results
Optimized girRAFF preparations yielded improved preparation efficiency (0.95/0.91 simulations/phantom) with respect to RAFF (0.36/0.67 simulations/phantom). TgirRAFF preparations showed in phantom/calf 6.0/4.8 times higher resilience to B0 inhomogeneities than RAFF, and a 4.7/5.3 improved resilience to B1+ inhomogeneities. In the knee cartilage, TgirRAFF (53 ± 14 ms) was higher than TRAFF (42 ± 11 ms). Moreover, girRAFF preparations yielded 7.6/4.9 times improved reproducibility across B0/B1+ inhomogeneity conditions, 1.9 times better reproducibility across subjects and 1.2 times across slices compared with RAFF. Dixon-based fat suppression led to a further 15-fold improvement in the robustness of girRAFF to inhomogeneities.

Conclusions
RAFF pulses display residual sensitivity to off-resonance and pronounced sensitivity to B1+ inhomogeneities. Optimized girRAFF pulses provide increased robustness and may be an appealing alternative for applications where resilience against field inhomogeneities is required.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) protocols can be lengthy and complex, which has driven the research community to develop new technologies to make these protocols more efficient and patient-friendly. Two different approaches to improving CMR have been proposed, specifically “all-in-one” CMR, where several contrasts and/or motion states are acquired simultaneously, and “real-time” CMR, in which the examination is accelerated to avoid the need for breathholding and/or cardiac gating. The goal of this two-part manuscript is to describe these two different types of emerging rapid CMR. To this end, the vision of each is described, along with techniques which have been devised and tested along the pathway of clinical implementation. The pros and cons of the different methods are presented, and the remaining open needs of each are detailed. Part 1 will tackle the “all-in-one” approaches, and Part 2 the “real-time” approaches along with an overall summary of these emerging methods.

Purpose: To develop and evaluate a robust cardiac B+1 mapping sequence at 3 T, using Bloch–Siegert shift (BSS)-based preparations.

Methods: A longitudinal magnetization preparation module was designed to encode |B+1 |. After magnetization tip-down, off-resonant Fermi pulses, placed symmetrically around two refocusing pulses, induced BSS, followed by tipping back of the magnetization. Bloch simulations were used to optimize refocusing pulse parameters and to assess the mapping sensitivity. Relaxation-induced B+1 error was simulated for various T 1 /T 2 times. The effective mapping range was determined in phantom experiments, and |B+1 | maps were compared to the conventional BSS method and subadiabatic hyperbolic-secant 8 (HS8) pulse-sensitized method. Cardiac B+1 maps were acquired in healthy subjects, and evaluated for repeatability and imaging plane intersection consistency. The technique was modified for three-dimensional (3D) acquisition of the whole heart in a single breath-hold, and compared to two-dimensional (2D) acquisition.

Results: Simulations indicate that the proposed preparation can be tailored to achieve high mapping sensitivity across various B+1 ranges, with maximum sensitivity at the upper B+1 range. T 1 /T 2 -induced bias did not exceed 5.2%. Experimentally reproduced B+1 sensitization closely matched simulations for B+1 ≥ 0.3B+1, max (mean difference 0.031±0.022, compared to 0.018±0.025 in the HS8-sensitized method), and showed 20-fold reduction in the standard deviation of repeated scans, compared with conventional BSS B+1 mapping, and an equivalent 2-fold reduction compared with HS8-sensitization. Robust cardiac B+1 map quality was obtained, with an average test-retest variability of 0.027±0.043 relative to normalized B+1 magnitude, and plane intersection bias of 0.052±0.031. 3D acquisitions showed good agreement with2D scans (mean absolute deviation 0.055±0.061).

Conclusion: BSS-based preparations enable robust and tailorable 2D/3D cardiac B+1 mapping at 3 T in a single breath-hold.

Purpose
To harmonize the use of color for MR relaxometry maps and therefore recommend the use of specific color-maps for representing T1, T2, and T2* maps and their inverses.

Methods
Perceptually linearized color-maps were chosen to have similar color settings as those proposed by Griswold et al. in 2018. A Delphi process, polling the opinion of a panel of 81 experts, was used to generate consensus on the suitability of these maps.

Results
Consensus was reached on the suitability of the logarithm-processed Lipari color-map for T1 and the logarithm-processed Navia color-map for T2 and T2*. There was consensus on color bars being mandatory and on the use of a specific value indicating “invalidity.” There was no consensus on whether the ranges should be fixed per anatomy.

Conclusion
The authors recommend the use of the logarithm-processed Lipari color-map for displaying quantitative T1 maps and R1 maps; likewise, the authors recommend the logarithm-processed Navia color-map for displaying T2, T2*, R2, and R2* maps.

This work originated with the Quantitative MR Study Group of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM); it has the approval of the Publication Committee and of the Board of the ISMRM.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to develop and optimize an adiabatic (Formula presented.) ((Formula presented.)) mapping method for robust quantification of spin-lock (SL) relaxation in the myocardium at 3T. Methods: Adiabatic SL (aSL) preparations were optimized for resilience against (Formula presented.) and (Formula presented.) inhomogeneities using Bloch simulations. Optimized (Formula presented.) -aSL, Bal-aSL and (Formula presented.) -aSL modules, each compensating for different inhomogeneities, were first validated in phantom and human calf. Myocardial (Formula presented.) mapping was performed using a single breath-hold cardiac-triggered bSSFP-based sequence. Then, optimized (Formula presented.) preparations were compared to each other and to conventional SL-prepared (Formula presented.) maps (RefSL) in phantoms to assess repeatability, and in 13 healthy subjects to investigate image quality, precision, reproducibility and intersubject variability. Finally, aSL and RefSL sequences were tested on six patients with known or suspected cardiovascular disease and compared with LGE, (Formula presented.), and ECV mapping. Results: The highest (Formula presented.) preparation efficiency was obtained in simulations for modules comprising 2 HS pulses of 30 ms each. In vivo (Formula presented.) maps yielded significantly higher quality than RefSL maps. Average myocardial (Formula presented.) values were 183.28 (Formula presented.) 25.53 ms, compared with 38.21 (Formula presented.) 14.37 ms RefSL-prepared (Formula presented.). (Formula presented.) maps showed a significant improvement in precision (avg. 14.47 (Formula presented.) 3.71% aSL, 37.61 (Formula presented.) 19.42% RefSL, p < 0.01) and reproducibility (avg. 4.64 (Formula presented.) 2.18% aSL, 47.39 (Formula presented.) 12.06% RefSL, p < 0.0001), with decreased inter-subject variability (avg. 8.76 (Formula presented.) 3.65% aSL, 51.90 (Formula presented.) 15.27% RefSL, p < 0.0001). Among aSL preparations, (Formula presented.) -aSL achieved the better inter-subject variability. In patients, (Formula presented.) -aSL preparations showed the best artifact resilience among the adiabatic preparations. (Formula presented.) times show focal alteration colocalized with areas of hyper-enhancement in the LGE images. Conclusion: Adiabatic preparations enable robust in vivo quantification of myocardial SL relaxation times at 3T.

Objective: Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) holds great promise for the early detection of cartilage deterioration. Here, a Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) framework is proposed for comprehensive and rapid quantification of T ₁, T ₂ ^∗, and T _RAFF2 with whole-knee coverage. Methods: A MRF framework was developed to achieve quantification of Relaxation Along a Fictitious Field in the 2nd rotating frame of reference (T _RAFF2) along with T ₁ and T ₂ ^∗. The proposed sequence acquires 65 measurements of 25 high-resolution slices, interleaved with 7 inversion pulses and 40 RAFF2 trains, for whole-knee quantification in a total acquisition time of 3:25 min. Comparison with reference T ₁, T ₂ ^∗, and T _RAFF2 methods was performed in phantom and in seven healthy subjects at 3 T. Repeatability (test-retest) with and without repositioning was also assessed. Results: Phantom measurements resulted in good agreement between MRF and the reference with mean biases of -54, 2, and 5 ms for T ₁, T ₂ ^∗, and T _RAFF2, respectively. Complete characterization of the whole-knee cartilage was achieved for all subjects, and, for the femoral and tibial compartments, a good agreement between MRF and reference measurements was obtained. Across all subjects, the proposed MRF method yielded acceptable repeatability without repositioning (R ²≥ 0.94) and with repositioning (R ²≥ 0.57) for T ₁, T ₂ ^∗, and T _RAFF2. Significance: The short scan time combined with the whole-knee coverage makes the proposed MRF framework a promising candidate for the early assessment of cartilage degeneration with quantitative MRI, but further research may be warranted to improve repeatability after repositioning and assess clinical value in patients.

Purpose: To investigate and mitigate the influence of physiological and acquisition-related parameters on myocardial blood flow (MBF) measurements obtained with myocardial Arterial Spin Labeling (myoASL). Methods: A Flow-sensitive Alternating Inversion Recovery (FAIR) myoASL sequence with bSSFP and spoiled GRE (spGRE) readout is investigated for MBF quantification. Bloch-equation simulations and phantom experiments were performed to evaluate how variations in acquisition flip angle (FA), acquisition matrix size (AMS), heart rate (HR) and blood (Formula presented.) relaxation time ((Formula presented.)) affect quantification of myoASL-MBF. In vivo myoASL-images were acquired in nine healthy subjects. A corrected MBF quantification approach was proposed based on subject-specific (Formula presented.) values and, for spGRE imaging, subtracting an additional saturation-prepared baseline from the original baseline signal. Results: Simulated and phantom experiments showed a strong dependence on AMS and FA ((Formula presented.) >0.73), which was eliminated in simulations and alleviated in phantom experiments using the proposed saturation-baseline correction in spGRE. Only a very mild HR dependence ((Formula presented.) >0.59) was observed which was reduced when calculating MBF with individual (Formula presented.). For corrected spGRE, in vivo mean global spGRE-MBF ranged from 0.54 to 2.59 mL/g/min and was in agreement with previously reported values. Compared to uncorrected spGRE, the intra-subject variability within a measurement (0.60 mL/g/min), between measurements (0.45 mL/g/min), as well as the inter-subject variability (1.29 mL/g/min) were improved by up to 40% and were comparable with conventional bSSFP. Conclusion: Our results show that physiological and acquisition-related factors can lead to spurious changes in myoASL-MBF if not accounted for. Using individual (Formula presented.) and a saturation-baseline can reduce these variations in spGRE and improve reproducibility of FAIR-myoASL against acquisition parameters.

The aim of this study is to develop and evaluate a regularized Simultaneous Multi-Slice (SMS) reconstruction method for improved Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR). The proposed reconstruction method, SMS with COmpOsition of k-space IntErpolations (SMS-COOKIE) combines the advantages of Iterative Self-consistent Parallel Imaging Reconstruction (SPIRiT) and split slice-Generalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisitions (GRAPPA), while allowing regularization for further noise reduction. The proposed SMS-COOKIE was implemented with and without regularization, and validated using a Saturation Pulse-Prepared Heart rate Independent inversion REcovery (SAPPHIRE) myocardial T ₁ mapping sequence. The performance of the proposed reconstruction method was compared to ReadOut (RO)–SENSE-GRAPPA and split slice-GRAPPA, on both retrospectively and prospectively three-fold SMS-accelerated data with an additional two-fold in-plane acceleration. All SMS reconstruction methods yielded similar T ₁ values compared to single band imaging. SMS-COOKIE showed lower spatial variability in myocardial T ₁ with significant improvement over RO-SENSE-GRAPPA and split slice-GRAPPA (P < 10 ⁻⁴). The proposed method with additional locally low rank (LLR) regularization reduced the spatial variability, again with significant improvement over RO-SENSE-GRAPPA and split slice-GRAPPA (P < 10 ⁻⁴). In conclusion, improved reconstruction quality was achieved with the proposed SMS-COOKIE, which also provided lower spatial variability with significant improvement over split slice-GRAPPA.

T₂-hyperintense lesions are the key imaging marker of multiple sclerosis (MS). Previous studies have shown that the white matter surrounding such lesions is often also affected by MS. Our aim was to develop a new method to visualize and quantify the extent of white matter tissue changes in MS based on relaxometry properties. We applied a fast, multi-parametric quantitative MRI approach and used a multi-component MR Fingerprinting (MC-MRF) analysis. We assessed the differences in the MRF component representing prolongedrelaxation time between patients with MS and controls and studied the relation between this component's volume and structural white matter damage identified on FLAIR MRI scans in patients with MS. A total of 48 MS patients at two different sites and 12 healthy controls were scanned with FLAIR and MRF-EPI MRI scans. MRF scans were analyzed with a joint-sparsity multi-component analysis to obtain magnetization fraction maps of different components, representing tissues such as myelin water, white matter, gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid. In the MS patients, an additional component was identified with increased transverse relaxation times compared to the white matter, likely representing changes in free water content. Patients with MS had a higher volume of the long- component in the white matter of the brain compared to healthy controls (B (95%-CI) = 0.004 (0.0006–0.008), p = 0.02). Furthermore, this MRF component had a moderate correlation (correlation coefficient R 0.47) with visible structural white matter changes on the FLAIR scans. Also, the component was found to be more extensive compared to structural white matter changes in 73% of MS patients. In conclusion, our MRF acquisition and analysis captured white matter tissue changes in MS patients compared to controls. In patients these tissue changes were more extensive compared to visually detectable white matter changes on FLAIR scans. Our method provides a novel way to quantify the extent of white matter changes in MS patients, which is underestimated using only conventional clinical MRI scans.

Model-free phasor image analysis, well established in fluorescence lifetime imaging and only recently applied to qMRI T₂ data processing, is here adapted and validated for myocardial qMRI T₁ mapping. Contrarily to routine mono-exponential fitting procedures, phasor enables mapping the lifetime information from all image voxels to a single plot, without resorting to any regression fitting analysis, and describing multi-exponential qMRI decays without biases due to violated modelling assumptions. In this feasibility study, we test the performance of our recently developed full-harmonics phasor method for unravelling partial-volume effects, motion or pathological tissue alteration, respectively on a numerically-simulated dataset, a healthy subject scan, and two pilot patient datasets. Our results show that phasor analysis can be used, as alternative method to fitting analysis or other model-free approaches, to identify motion artifacts or partial-volume effects at the myocardium-blood interface as characteristic deviations, or delineations of scar and remote myocardial tissue in patient data.

With sound pressure levels reaching up to 130 dB, acoustic noise in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the main sources of patient discomfort in otherwise one of the safest medical imaging modalities. In this work, a noise prediction-based approach, termed predictive noise cancelling (PNC), is applied, for the first time, to suppress noise in MRI. In PN C the noise from the scanner gradient coils is predicted based on linear time-invariant models, which relate the individual gradient coil (X, Y and Z) input to the acoustic noise output. A model setup was constructed of a custom speaker box and MRI -compatible microphone to demonstrate live noise reduction. Additional tuning steps, including output channel equalization and clock mismatch correction, were performed to maximize noise reduction. A calibration sequence was designed to determine the model and tuning parameters. Analysis of actual scanner noise shows an upper limit of 21 dB noise reduction with the proposed linear model. For the components of a clinical example sequence, the setup demonstrated in-bore live noise reduction of up to 10 dB (7.01 ± 0.31 dB, 6.42 ± 2.04 dB and 9.28 ± 0.26 dB for X, Y and Z gradient coils respectively) in the presence of system imperfections. Clinical relevance - The results indicate promising noise attenuation without the need to modify scanner hardware or compromises in acquisition speed or quality. This has potential to substantially and cost effectively improve patient comfort in clinical MRI.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the clinical gold standard for the assessment of myocardial viability but requires injection of exogenous gadolinium-based contrast agents. Recently, T1ρ-mapping has been proposed as a fully non-invasive alternative for imaging myocardial fibrosis without the need for contrast agent injection. However, its applicability at high fields is hindered by susceptibility to MRI system imperfections, such as inhomogeneities in the B0 and B1+ fields. In this work we propose a single breath-hold ECG-triggered single-shot bSSFP sequence to enable T1ρ-mapping in vivo at 3T. Adiabatic T1ρ preparations are evaluated to reduce B0 and B1+ sensitivity in comparison with conventional spin-lock (SL) modules. Numerical Bloch simulations were performed to identify optimal parameters for the adiabatic pulses. Experiments yield T1ρ values in the myocardium equal to 48.13±54.08 ms for the best adiabatic preparation and 16.01±20.75 ms for the reference non-adiabatic SL, with 26.91% against 89.74% relative difference in T1ρ values across two shimming conditions. Both phantom and in vivo measurements show increased myocardium/blood contrast and improved resilience against system imperfections compared to non-adiabatic T1ρ preparations, enabling the use at 3T. Clinical relevance- Adiabatically-prepared T1ρ-mapping sequences form a promising candidate for non-contrast evaluation of ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies at 3T.

Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is the clinical reference for assessment of myocardial scar and focal fibrosis. However, current LGE techniques are confined to imaging of a single cardiac phase, which hampers assessment of scar motility and does not allow cross-comparison between multiple phases. In this work, we investigate a three step approach to obtain cardiac phase-resolved LGE images: (1) Acquisition of cardiac phase-resolved imaging data with varying T1 weighting. (2) Generation of semi-quantitative T*1 maps for each cardiac phase. (3) Synthetization of LGE contrast to obtain functional LGE images. The proposed method is evaluated in phantom imaging, six healthy subjects at 3T and 20 patients at 1.5T. Phantom imaging at 3T demonstrates consistent contrast throughout the cardiac cycle with a coefficient of variation of 2.55 ± 0.42%. In-vivo results show reliable LGE contrast with thorough suppression of the myocardial tissue is healthy subjects. The contrast between blood and myocardium showed moderate variation throughout the cardiac cycle in healthy subjects (coefficient of variation 18.2 ± 3.51%). Images were acquired at 40–60 ms and 80 ms temporal resolution, at 3T and 1.5, respectively. Functional LGE images acquired in patients with myocardial scar visualized scar tissue throughout the cardiac cycle, albeit at noticeably lower imaging resolution and noise resilience than the reference technique. The proposed technique bears the promise of integrating the advantages of phase-resolved CMR with LGE imaging, but further improvements in the acquisition quality are warranted for clinical use.